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Minnesota Legacy Amendment Fund Heats Up

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - The battle between Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities over state funding for parks and trails is heating up again.

At stake is about $40 million annually from Minnesota Legacy Amendment funds that are divided among Twin Cities parks, state parks and regional parks in Greater Minnesota.

Earlier this year, 10 Twin Cities agencies passed a resolution calling the current split unfair. In response, cities and counties in Greater Minnesota have passed their own resolutions calling for an even greater share.

The St. Cloud Times reports it's likely to be a contentious issue that spills into next year's legislative session.

Republican state Sen. John Pederson of St. Cloud says metro residents have "an abundance of parks," while "a lot of catch-up" needs to be done in Greater Minnesota.